Using Low Code/No Code (LCNC) Platforms for Mobile and Web Applications

Using Low Code/No Code (LCNC) Platforms for Mobile and Web Applications

Why Are We Shifting to LCNC?

The adoption of LCNC platforms is the next step toward ensuring that everyone can create applications quickly and easily. Professional developers may swiftly design apps using low-code and no-code modular techniques since they are not required to write lines of code. They also make it possible for people who are not software professionals to create and test apps, such as business analysts, office managers, small company owners, and others. These folks don't need to know much about machine code, traditional programming languages, or the design effort that went into the platform's programmable components in order to create apps.

What is Low Code/No Code?

Low code: Low-code is a technique for planning and creating programs that eliminate the need for traditional, or pro-code, coding by employing simple graphical tools and embedded functionalities. Low-code development delivers an enhanced and streamlined experience to allow users to start creating right away. However, pro-code writing is still a component of the development process.

No Code: No-code is a technique that shares certain advantages with low-code in terms of user experience but goes one step further by enabling non-technical business users to create applications without writing a single line of code.

Greater user accessibility is promised with the use of LCNC technologies, which will encourage more innovation and relieve pressure on IT departments.

Similarities Between Low Code and No Code Platforms

Visual

Platforms with low code and those with no code are both WYSIWYG, or what you see is what you get. They enable them to visualize the business procedure or application that is developing graphically rather than in terms of code. As a result, business stakeholders will be able to work effectively with the development team, comprehend how their systems operate and be flexible enough to make fast adjustments.

Drag & drop

Drag and drop is how the development tools operate. In order to link them in the logical sequence, choose the tool, and drag it onto the design surface and customize them to meet the requirements.

Pre-built tools and connectors

Pre-built tools and connections are available nearly universally in low-code and no-code platforms, depending on the low-code platform already in use. Tools include ready-to-use connectors and services, which save development time and facilitate integration.

Differences Between Low Code and No Code Platforms

The difference between low-code and no-code platforms may be shown by emphasizing a few of their key distinctions. The complexity of the app, procedures, and systems, the size and capabilities of the development team, and the required speed of market entry should all be taken into account when deciding which platform best meets the objectives.

As a general rule, no-code platforms are excellent for "citizen developers" who need something straightforward for a particular situation, whereas low-code platforms are excellent for software engineers who wish to create intricate systems that are in line with business requirements.

What are the Features of LCNC platforms?

In essence, low-code/no-code platforms are a component of the first wave of rapid mobile application development tools. Businesses of all sizes and sectors have acknowledged the necessity for a digital transformation as a result of rapidly developing technology. Such businesses require software and/or apps that meet client expectations if they were to be relevant and competitive in the digital era. Platforms with low or no code are an excellent options since they have several benefits, including wide accessibility, quick development, and low cost.

Visual Modeling: Low-code and no-code platforms substitute a drag-and-drop interface for complex code. Through visual modelling, data processing and management are made simple for developers.

Robust Functionality: Famous low-code solutions offer OOTB (out-of-the-box) capabilities, removing the need to create the foundational components of programs from scratch. Some of the platforms come with pre-built core modules such as data management, customer service management, etc.

Reusability: The use of pre-configured modules and functionality for apps is a significant part of low-code development. These modules often contain all the essential basic operations required by many programs and may be readily reused for several alternative solutions.

Cross-platform accessibility: One of the most sought-after characteristics of low-code/no-code platforms is multi-device interoperability. The cross-platform interoperability of the low-code platform allows users to create apps that can operate on all essential platforms and devices, in addition to enabling the usage of the platform on any device running major operating systems.

Reporting and monitoring: Apps created with the low-code methodology are prepared to track workflows and processes to determine their efficacy. Additionally, tracking the performance of other applications is particularly helpful for analytical purposes.

Types of LCNC by Use Case

LCNC platforms provide a variety of use cases. There are several distinct low-code platforms available, each with a particular intended use or function.

General Purpose

These platforms enable the development of almost any kind of application. A general-purpose platform enables the developer to create apps that can be used everywhere and cater to a wide range of purposes. Depending on the need, general-purpose low-code platforms may entail building the front-end or back-end of the application.

Process

These platforms concentrate especially on apps that manage business processes, such as forms, workflows, and system connections. Going paperless and using approval procedures are perfect uses for process-based systems.

Request Handling

Low-code systems that handle requests are comparable to those that use processes, although they are less powerful. Only requests for fixed processes can be processed by them.

Database

These platforms are much more constrained; they only provide access to retrieve data from internal system databases. Database low-code platforms are excellent if needed to load a system with a lot of data but don't have a lot of time to do so.

Mobile Application Development Platform (MADP)

These platforms help developers code, test, and launch mobile apps for smartphones and tablets. Using these platforms, the user can write code for one platform and port the app to different mobile platforms.

LCNC Examples

Although experts predict that software developers employing low-code/no-code tools will be the main DevOps trend, marketers and analysts will profit from the no-code/low-code technology. Most developers believe that using these technologies will help them save time, lessen the workload, increase productivity, and prevent them from becoming outdated. 40% of low-code developers work full-time, while 33% work part-time, according to research by IDC. Developers are now judged on their ability to create digital solutions rather than their level of coding expertise. Despite this, low-code/no-code systems are still in their infancy. Even the most widely used tools demand extensive API knowledge and JavaScript competence. The functionality of items that don't require coding is currently constrained.

Amazon

Prior to the release of Amazon Sagemaker Canvas, AWS introduced two no-code/low-code services: Amplify Studio, visual development service for application stacks, and Amazon Honeycode, a visual builder for web and mobile applications. Any engineer or business user can develop ML predictions using point-and-click choices and automatically merge their data to create individual or batch forecasts using the Amazon Sagemaker Canvas.

Due to the excessive demand for cloud-focused talents and the belief that the solution would help with the existing skill-gap issues, Amazon intends to increase the no-code/low-code portfolio. With no-code/low-code, the business also hoped to appeal to non-technical users.

Google

Google also offers AutoML, a no-code AI solution. The answer implied that the developer had some experience with machine learning. Users may train superior ML models for commercial use cases with the feature-rich AutoML family of AI tools.

SAP

SAP joined the no-code/low-code bandwagon as well. With this solution, users may use drag-and-drop tools to create apps and modify SAP procedures. Workflows for the controlling and finance divisions will also be automated. The firm acquired the no-code platform AppGyver for its no-code development environment, and SAP has introduced the Business Application Studio for low-code.

Microsoft offers a free desktop application called Lobe that allows users to create customized AI models without any code. The best application for classifying images is Lobe, which is available for Windows and Mac. Also, an end-to-end, free AI platform called Akkio was created for marketing, sales, and finance operations. The software states that without creating code or employing a data professional, it can assist in transforming data into live AI forecasts in less than 10 minutes.

Conclusion

The upcoming trends in software development include no-code and low-code. Citizens will construct more and more applications in the future utilizing low- and no-code platforms, which will offer the necessary governance for development across business functions.

Subject-matter experts have distinctive expertise and ideas that are sometimes challenging to properly share with IT teams. Businesses may ensure that the most knowledgeable team members can participate in the app development process by empowering these "citizen developers." Department heads and IT specialists can work together more effectively and make sure the appropriate technologies, workflows, and procedures are in place with the help of LCNC platforms. The increase of citizen developers contributes to meeting the need for new apps, addressing the developer talent gap, reducing the strain on IT personnel, and enabling quicker customer and market response.

References

https://www.techtarget.com/searchsoftwarequality/definition/low-code-no-code-development-platform#:~:text=Low%2Dcode%2Fno%2Dcode,create%20mobile%20or%20web%20apps.

https://www.sap.com/insights/what-is-low-code-no-code.html

https://marutitech.com/no-code-low-code-vs-traditional-development/

https://venturebeat.com/2021/02/14/no-code-low-code-why-you-should-be-paying-attention/

https://medium.com/@stefan_d/starting-a-low-code-application-architecture-13170fcd6fc7

https://www.cuelogic.com/blog/low-code-platform

https://kissflow.com/low-code/types-of-low-code-platforms/